Process for arylamine production

ABSTRACT

A process for synthesizing arylamine compounds is provided. The process includes producing a dicarboxylic acid salt of an arylamine molecule by reacting a dicarboxylic acid arylamine with an alkyl salt to produce the dicarboxylic acid arylamine salt.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to improved chemical processes for the synthesis of arylamine compounds, and to the use of such arylamine compounds in producing overcoating layers for electrophotographic imaging members. In particular, this disclosure provides a method for producing a dicarboxylic acid salt of an arylamine molecule by reacting a dicarboxylic acid arylamine with an alkoxide salt to produce the dicarboxylic acid arylamine salt.

In electrophotography, an electrophotographic substrate containing a photoconductive insulating layer on a conductive layer is imaged by first uniformly electrostatically charging a surface of the substrate. The substrate is then exposed to a pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation, such as, for example, light. The light or other electromagnetic radiation selectively dissipates the charge in illuminated areas of the photoconductive insulating layer while leaving behind an electrostatic latent image in non-illuminated areas of the photoconductive insulating layer. This electrostatic latent image is then developed to form a visible image by depositing finely divided electroscopic marking particles on the surface of the photoconductive insulating layer. The resulting visible image is then transferred from the electrophotographic substrate to a necessary member, such as, for example, an intermediate transfer member or a print substrate, such as paper. This image developing process can be repeated as many times as necessary with reusable photoconductive insulating layers.

Image forming apparatus such as copiers, printers and facsimiles, including electrophotographic systems for charging, exposure, development, transfer, etc., using electrophotographic photoreceptors have been widely employed. In such image forming apparatus, there are ever increasing demands for improving the speed of the image formation processes, improving image quality, miniaturizing and prolonging the life of the apparatus, reducing production and running costs, etc. Further, with recent advances in computers and communication technology, digital systems and color image output systems have been applied also to image forming apparatus.

Electrophotographic imaging members (i.e. photoreceptors) are well known. Electrophotographic imaging members having either a flexible belt or a rigid drum configuration are commonly used in electrophotographic processes. Electrophotographic imaging members may comprise a photoconductive layer including a single layer or composite layers. These electrophotographic imaging members take many different forms. For example, layered photoresponsive imaging members are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990 to Stolka et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a layered photoreceptor having separate photogenerating and charge transport layers. The photogenerating layer disclosed in the 990 patent is capable of photogenerating holes and injecting the photogenerated holes into the charge transport layer. Thus, in the photoreceptors of the 990 patent, the photogenerating material generates electrons and holes when subjected to light.

More advanced photoconductive photoreceptors containing highly specialized component layers are also known. For example, multilayered photoreceptors may include one or more of a substrate, an undercoating layer, an intermediate layer, an optional hole or charge blocking layer, a charge generating layer (including a photogenerating material in a binder) over an undercoating layer and/or a blocking layer, and a charge transport layer (including a charge transport material in a binder). Additional layers, such as one or more overcoat layer or layers, may be included as well.

In view of such a background, improvement in electrophotographic properties and durability, miniaturization, reduction in cost, etc., in electrophotographic photoreceptors have been studied, and electrophotographic photoreceptors using various materials have been proposed.

For example, JP-A-63-65449 (the term “JP-A” as used herein means an “unexamined published Japanese patent application”), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses an electrophotographic photoreceptor in which fine silicone particles are added to a photosensitive layer, and also discloses that such addition of the fine silicone particles imparts lubricity to a surface of the photoreceptor.

Further, in forming a photosensitive layer, a method has been proposed in which a charge transfer substance is dispersed in a binder polymer or a polymer precursor thereof, and then the binder polymer or the polymer precursor thereof is cured. JP-A-5-47104 and JP-A-60-22347, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, disclose electrophotographic photoreceptors using silicone materials as the binder polymers or the polymer precursors thereof.

Furthermore, in order to improve mechanical strength of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a protective layer is formed on the surface of the photosensitive layer in some cases. Often, a crosslinkable resin is used as a material for the protective layer. However, protective layers formed by crosslinkable resin act as insulating layers, which impair the photoelectric characteristics of the photoreceptor. For this reason, a method of dispersing a fine conductive metal oxide powder (JP-A-57-128344) or a charge transfer substance (JP-A-4-15659) in the protective layer and a method of reacting a charge transfer substance having a reactive functional group with a thermoplastic resin to form the protective layer have been proposed. JP-A-57-128344 and JP-A-4-15659 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

However, even the above-mentioned conventional electrophotographic photoreceptors are not necessarily sufficient in electrophotographic characteristics and durability, particularly when they are used in combination with a charger of the contact charging system (contact charger) or a cleaning apparatus, such as a cleaning blade.

Further, when the photoreceptor is used in combination with the contact charger and a toner obtained by chemical polymerization (polymerization toner), image quality may be deteriorated due to a surface of the photoreceptor being stained with a discharge product produced in contact charging or the polymerization toner remaining after a transfer step. Still further, the use of a cleaning blade to remove discharge product or remaining toner from the surface of the photoreceptor involves friction and abrasion between the surface of the photoreceptor and the cleaning blade, which tends to damage the surface of the photoreceptor, breaks the cleaning blade or turns up the cleaning blade.

The use of silicon-containing compounds in photoreceptor layers, including in photosensitive and protective layers, has been shown to increase the mechanical lifetime of electrophotographic photoreceptors, under charging conditions and scorotron charging conditions. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication U.S. 2004/0086794 to Yamada et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a photoreceptor having improved mechanical strength and stain resistance.

Photoreceptors having low wear rates, such as those described in U.S. 2004/0086794, also have low refresh rates. Low wear and refresh rates are a primary cause of image deletion errors, particularly under conditions of high humidity and high temperature. U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,448 B2 to Yoshino et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, addresses this issue in its disclosure of photoreceptors having some improvement in image quality, fixing ability, even in an environment of high heat and humidity.

It has been determined that, in electrophotographic photoreceptors, deletion of a developed image is the result of degradation of the top-most surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor. This deletion occurs when the electrophotographic photoreceptor is exposed to environmental contaminants, such as those typically found around the charging device of a xerographic engine. The image deletion increases under conditions of high heat and high humidity.

In typical electrophotographic photoreceptors, where the outermost surface comprises a solid state solution of a hole-transporting arylamine compound in a polymeric binder material, image deletion occurs when the environmental contaminants around the charging device react with hole-transporting arylamine compounds to form highly conductive species.

However, in electrophotographic photoreceptors in which the outermost layer is a siloxane-organic hybrid material containing a hole-transporting arylamine moiety, image deletion occurs when the environmental contaminants around the charging device in the xerographic engine interact with the siloxane component of the siloxane-organic hybrid material. A chemical reaction by which residual alkoxides of the siloxane components hydrolyze to form highly polar silanol moieties results from this interaction. These highly polar silanols, which reside on the outermost surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor and both attract and retain environmental contaminants formed by the charging device, which cause highly conductive zones to form on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor. In the presence of high heat and/or high humidity, these highly conductive zones manifest as a deletion of the developed image.

Thus, the above-mentioned conventional electrophotographic photoreceptors are not necessarily sufficient in electrophotographic characteristics and durability, particularly when used in high heat and/or high humidity environments.

Thus, there still remains a need for electrophotographic photoreceptors having high mechanical strength and improved electrophotographic characteristics and improved image deletion characteristics even under conditions of high temperature and high humidity. In particular, there remains a need for an additive to siloxane-containing layers that will interact with the environmental contaminants formed by the charging device of the xerographic engine and prevent the contaminants from interacting with siloxanes residues and that will also prevent or decrease the deletion of developed images.

SUMMARY

Silicon-containing layers for electrophotographic photoreceptors, in which the silicon-containing layers have high mechanical strength, improved electrophotographic characteristics and improved image deletion characteristics even under conditions of high temperature and high humidity are provided.

A method for the preparation of a silicon-containing arylamine compound in which the arylamine compound is a derivative of 4-aminobiphenyl is separably provided. Specifically, a method for the preparation of a silicon-containing arylamine derivative of 4-aminobiphenyl is provided, in which the silicon-containing arylamine derivative of 4-aminobiphenyl is where a dicarboxylic acid salt of an alkali metal compound, prepared in an anhydrous environment.

The dicarboxylic acid salt of an alkali metal compound is further useful as an intermediate, which can be reacted with an alkylhalide compound containing a siloxane moiety to produce a siloxane containing arylamine compound which is useful in the preparation of siloxane containing charge transporting layers for electrophotographic application.

These and other features and advantages of various exemplary embodiments of materials, devices, systems and/or methods according to this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of the various exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems according to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic photoreceptor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 sets forth exemplary siloxane-containing arylamine compounds.

FIG. 5 sets forth a conventional process for the production of siloxane-containing arylamine compounds.

FIG. 6 sets forth a conventional process for the production of siloxane-containing arylamine compounds, including the formation of an alkali metal salt intermediate.

FIG. 7 sets forth typical by-products of the conventional process of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 sets forth a process for the production of a dicarboxylic acid potassium salt of an arylamine compound according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to drawings in some cases. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and signs are used to designate the same or corresponding parts, and repeated descriptions are avoided.

Electrophotographic Photoreceptor

In electrophotographic photoreceptors of embodiments, photosensitive layers may comprise one or more silicon-containing layers, and the silicon-containing layers may further contain resin.

In embodiments, the resin may be a resin soluble in a liquid component in a coating solution used for formation of this layer. Such a liquid-soluble resin may be selected based upon the liquid component employed. For example, if the coating solution contains an alcoholic solvent (such as methanol, ethanol or butanol), a polyvinyl acetal resin such as a polyvinyl butyral resin, a polyvinyl formal resin or a partially acetalized polyvinyl acetal resin in which butyral is partially modified with formal or acetoacetal, a polyamide resin, a cellulose resin such as ethyl cellulose and a phenol resin may be suitably chosen as the alcohol-soluble resins. These resins may be used either alone or as a combination of two or more of them. Of the above-mentioned resins, the polyvinyl acetal resin is used in some embodiments to obtain the benefits of its electric characteristics.

In embodiments, the weight-average molecular weight of the resin soluble in the liquid component may be from 2,000 to 1,000,000, and from 5,000 to 50,000. When the average molecular weight is less than 2,000, the effect of enhancing discharge gas resistance, mechanical strength, scratch resistance, particle dispersibility, etc., tends to become insufficient. However, when the average molecular weight exceeds 1,000,000, the resin solubility in the coating solution decreases, and the amount of resin added to the coating solution may be limited and poor film formation in the production of the photosensitive layer may result.

Further, the amount of resin soluble in the liquid component may be, in embodiments, from 0.1 to 15% by weight, or from 0.5 to 10% by weight, based on the total amount of the coating solution. When the amount added is less than 0.1% by weight, the effect of enhancing discharge gas resistance, mechanical strength, scratch resistance, particle dispersibility, etc., tends to become insufficient. However, if the amount of the resin soluble in the liquid component exceeds 15% by weight, there is a tendency for formation of indistinct images when the electrophotographic photoreceptor of embodiments is used at high temperature and high humidity.

As used herein, a “high temperature environment” or “high temperature conditions” refer to an atmosphere in which the temperature is at least 28° C. A “high humidity environment” or “high humidity conditions” refer to an atmosphere in which the relative humidity is at least 75%.

Silicon-containing compounds used in embodiments, contain at least one silicon atom, but are not particularly limited. However, a compound having two or more silicon atoms in its molecule may be used in embodiments. The use of the compound having two or more silicon atoms in its molecule allows both the strength and image quality of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to be achieved at higher levels.

In embodiments, at least one member selected from silicon-containing compounds represented by the following general formulas (1) to (3) and hydrolysates or hydrolytic condensates thereof may be used. W¹(—SiR_(3-a)Q_(a))₂  (2) W²(-D-SiR_(3-a)Q_(a))_(b)  (3) SiR_(4-c)Q_(c)  (4)

In general formulas (2) to (4), W¹ represents a divalent organic group, W² represents an organic group derived from a compound having hole transport capability, R represents a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, Q represents a hydrolytic group, D represents a divalent group, a represents an integer of 1 to 3, b represents an integer of 2 to 4, and c represents an integer of 1 to 4.

R in general formulas (2) to (4) represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms) or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group (preferably a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms), as described above.

Further, the hydrolytic group represented by Q in general formulas (2) to (4) means a functional group which can form a siloxane bond (O—Si—O) by hydrolysis in the curing reaction of the compound represented by any one of general formulas (2) to (4). Non-limiting examples of the hydrolytic groups that may be used in embodiments include a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group, a methyl ethyl ketoxime group, a diethylamino group, an acetoxy group, a propenoxy group and a chloro group. In particular embodiments, a group represented by —OR″ (R″ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms or a trimethylsilyl group) may be used.

In general formula (3), the divalent group represented by D may be, in embodiments, a divalent hydrocarbon group represented by —C_(n)H_(2n)—, —C_(n)H_(2n-2)—, —C_(n)H_(2n-4)— (n is an integer of 1 to about 15, and preferably from 2 to about 10), —CH₂—C₆H₄— or —C₆H₄—C₆H₄—, an oxycarbonyl group (—COO—), a thio group (—S—), an oxy group (—O—), an isocyano group (—N═CH—) or a divalent group in which two or more of them are combined. The divalent group may have a substituent group such as an alkyl group, a phenyl group, an alkoxyl group or an amino group on its side chain. When D is the above-mentioned preferred divalent group, proper flexibility may be imparted to an organic silicate skeleton, thereby tending to improve the strength of the layer.

Non-limiting examples of the compounds represented by the above-mentioned general formula (2) are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 No. Structural Formula III-1 (MeO)₃Si—(CH₂)₂—Si(OMe)₃ III-2 (MeO)₂Me—(CH2)₂—SiMe(OMe)₂ III-3 (MeO)₂MeSi—(CH₂)₆—SiMe(OMe)₂ III-4 (MeO)₃Si—(CH₂)₆—Si(OMe)₃ III-5 (EtO)₃Si—(CH₂)₆—Si(OEt)₃ III-6 (MeO)₂MeSi—(CH₂)₁₀—SiMe(OMe)₂ III-7 (MeO)₃Si—(CH₂)₃—NH—(CH₂)₃—Si(OMe)₃ III-8 (MeO)₃Si—(CH₂)₃—NH—(CH₂)₂—NH—(CH₂)₃—Si(OMe)₃ III-9

III-10

III-11

III-12

III-13

III-14

III-15 (MeO)₃SiC₃H₆—O—CH₂CH{—O—C₃H₆Si(OMe)₃}—CH₂{—O—C₃H₆Si(OMe)₃} III-16 (MeO)₃SiC₂H₄—SiMe₂—O—SiMe₂—O—SiMe₂—C₂H₄Si(OMe)₃

Further, in the above-mentioned general formula (3), there is no particular limitation on the organic group represented by W², as long as it is a group having hole transport capability. However, in particular embodiments, W² may be an organic group represented by the following general formula (6):

wherein Ar¹, Ar², Ar³ and Ar⁴, which may be the same or different, each represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, Ar⁵ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or arylene group, k represents 0 or 1, and at least one of Ar¹ to Ar⁵ has a bonding hand to connect with -D-SiR_(3-a)Q_(a) in general formula (3).

Ar¹ to Ar⁴ in the above-mentioned general formula (6) are each preferably any one of the following formulas (7) to (13):

In formulas (7) to (13), R⁶ represents a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted by an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms; R⁷ to R⁹ each represents a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted by an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, and a halogen atom; Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group; X represents -D-SiR_(3-a)Q_(a) in general formula (3); m and s each represents 0 or 1; q and r each represents an integer of 1 to 10; and t and t′ each represents an integer of 1 to 3.

Here, Ar in formula (7) may be one represented by the following formula (14) or (15):

In formulas (14) and (15), R¹⁰ and R¹¹ each represent a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted by an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, and a halogen atom; and t represents an integer of 1 to 3.

Further, Z′ in formula (13) is preferably one represented by any one of the following formulas (16) to (23): —(CH₂)_(q)—  (16) —(CH₂CH₂O)_(r)—  (17)

In formulas (16) to (23), R¹² and R¹³ each represent a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted by an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, and a halogen atom; W represents a divalent group; q and r each represents an integer of 1 to 10; and t represents an integer of 1 to 3.

W in the above-mentioned formulas (22) and (23) may be any one of divalent groups represented by the following formulas (24) to (32): —CH₂—  (24) —C(CH₃)₂—  (25) —O—  (26) —S—  (27) —C(CF₃)₂—  (28) —Si(CH₃)₂—  (29)

In formula (31), u represents an integer of 0 to 3.

Further, in general formula (6), Ar⁵ is the aryl group illustrated in the description of Ar¹ to Ar⁴, when k is 0, and an arylene group obtained by removing a certain hydrogen atom from such an aryl group, when k is 1.

Combinations of Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵ and integer k in formula (6) and a group represented by -D-SiR_(3-a)Q_(a) in general formula (3) in particular exemplary embodiments are shown in FIG. 4; additional exemplary embodiments can be found in U.S. 2004/0086794, U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,448 B2 and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/998,585, entitled “Silicon-Containing Layers for Electrophotographic Photoreceptors and Methods for Making the Same,” the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In FIG. 4, S represents -D-SiR_(3-a)Q_(a) linked to Ar¹ to Ar⁵, Me represents a methyl group, Et represents an ethyl group, and Pr represents a propyl group.

Further, in embodiments, the silicon compounds represented by the above-mentioned general formula (4) may include silane coupling agents such as a monofunctional alkoxysilane (c=1) such as trimethylmethoxysilane; a bifunctional alkoxysilane (c=2) such as dimethyldimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane or methylphenyldimethoxysilane; a trifunctional alkoxysilane (c=3) such as methyltrimethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane, ethyltrimethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxyethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N-β-(aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)triethoxysilane, (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)trimethoxysilane, 3-(heptafluoroisopropoxy)propyltriethoxysilane, 1H, 1H,2H,2H-perfluoroalkyltriethoxysilane, 1H, 1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane or 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane; and a tetrafunctional alkoxysilane (c=4) such as tetramethoxysilane or tetraethoxysilane.

In order to improve the strength of the photosensitive layer, the trifunctional alkoxysilanes and the tetrafunctional alkoxysilanes may be used in embodiments, and in order to improve the flexibility and film forming properties, the monofunctional alkoxysilanes and the bifunctional alkoxysilanes may be used in embodiments.

Silicone hard coating agents containing these coupling agents can also be used in embodiments. Commercially available hard coating agents include KP-85, X-40-9740 and X-40-2239 (available from Shinetsu Silicone Co., Ltd.), and AY42-440, AY42-441 and AY49-208 (available from Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.).

In embodiments, the silicon-containing layer may contain either only one of the silicon-containing compounds represented by the above-mentioned general formulas (2) to (4) or two or more of them. Further, the compounds represented by general formulas (2) to (4) may include a monofunctional compound (a compound in which a or c is 1), a bifunctional compound (a compound in which a or c is 2), a trifunctional compound (a compound in which a or c is 3) and/or a tetrafunctional compound (a compound in which a or c is 4). However, in particular embodiments, the number of silicon atoms derived from the silicon-containing compounds represented by the above-mentioned general formulas (2) to (4) in the silicon-containing layer satisfies the following equation (26): (N_(a=3)+N_(c≧3))/N_(total)≦0.5   (26)

wherein N_(a=3) represents the number of silicon atoms derived from —SiR_(3-a)Q_(a) of the silicon-containing compound represented by general formula (2) or (3), in which a is 3; N_(c≧3) represents the number of silicon atoms derived from the silicon-containing compound represented by general formula (4) in which c is 3 or 4, and N_(total) represents the total of the number of silicon atoms derived from —SiR_(3-a)Q_(a) of the silicon compound represented by general formula (2) or (3) and the number of silicon atoms derived from the silicon-containing compound represented by general formula (4). That is to say, the ratio of silicon-containing compounds contained is set so that the number of silicon atoms derived from the trifunctional compound or the tetrafunctional compound becomes 0.5 or less based on the number of silicon atoms derived from the silicon-containing compounds represented by general formulas (2) to (4) (in the case of the compound represented by general formula (2) or (3), the silicon atoms are limited to ones derived from —SiR_(3-a)Q_(a), and the same applies hereinafter). When the value of the left side of equation (26) exceeds 0.5, an indistinct image tends to be liable to occur at high temperature and high humidity. When the value of the left side of equation (26) is decreased, a decrease in strength may also result. However, the use of a silicon-containing compound having two or more silicon atoms in its molecule can improve the strength.

In order to further improve the stain adhesion resistance and lubricity of embodiments of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, various fine particles can also be added to the silicon-containing layer. Non-limiting examples of the fine particles include fine particles containing silicon, such as fine particles containing silicon as a constituent element, and specifically include colloidal silica and fine silicone particles. Fine particles may be used either alone or as a combination of two or more of such fine particles.

Colloidal silica used in embodiments as the fine particles containing silicon may be selected from acidic or alkaline aqueous dispersions of fine particles having an average particle size of 1 to 100 nm, or 10 to 30 nm, and dispersions of fine particles in organic solvents, such as an alcohol, a ketone or an ester. In general, commercially available particles may be used. There is no particular limitation on the solid content of colloidal silica in a top surface layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of embodiments. However, in embodiments, colloidal silica is used within the range of 1 to 50% by weight, or 5 to 30% by weight, based on the total solid content of the top surface layer, in terms of film-forming properties, electric characteristics and strength.

Fine silicone particles that may be used as fine particles containing silicon in embodiments may be selected from silicone resin particles, silicone rubber particles and silica particles surface-treated with silicone. Such particles may be spherical and may have an average particle size of 1 to 500 nm or 10 to 100 nm. In general, commercially available particles may be used in embodiments.

In embodiments, the fine silicone particles are small-sized particles that are chemically inactive and excellent in dispersibility in a resin, and further are low in content as may be necessary for obtaining sufficient characteristics. Accordingly, the surface properties of the electrophotographic photoreceptor can be improved without inhibition of the crosslinking reaction. That is to say, fine silicone particles improve the lubricity and water repellency of surfaces of electrophotographic photoreceptors where incorporated into strong crosslinked structures, which may then be able to maintain good wear resistance and stain adhesion resistance for a long period of time. The content of the fine silicone particles in the silicon-containing layer of embodiments may be within the range of 0.1 to 20% by weight, or within the range of 0.5 to 10% by weight, based on the total solid content of the silicon-containing layer.

Other fine particles that may be used in embodiments include fine fluorine-based particles, such as ethylene tetrafluoride, ethylene trifluoride, propylene hexafluoride, vinyl fluoride and vinylidene fluoride, and semiconductive metal oxides such as ZnO—Al₂O₃, SnO₂—Sb₂O₃, In₂O₃—SnO₂, ZnO—TiO₂, MgO—Al₂O₃, FeO—TiO₂, TiO₂, SnO₂, In₂O₃, ZnO and MgO.

In conventional electrophotographic photoreceptors, when the above-mentioned fine particles are contained in the photosensitive layer, the compatibility of the fine particles with a charge transfer substance or a binding resin may become insufficient, which causes layer separation in the photosensitive layer, and thus forms an opaque film. As a result, the electric characteristics have deteriorated in some cases. In contrast, the silicon compound-containing layer of embodiments (a charge transfer layer in this case) may contain the resin soluble in the liquid component in the coating solution used for formation of this layer and the silicon compound, thereby improving the dispersibility of the fine particles in the silicon compound-containing layer. Accordingly, the pot life of the coating solution can be sufficiently prolonged, and it becomes possible to prevent deterioration of the electric characteristics.

Further, an additive such as a plasticizer, a surface modifier, an antioxidant, or an agent for preventing deterioration by light can also be used in the silicon compound-containing layer of embodiments. Non-limiting examples of plasticizers that may be used in embodiments include, for example, biphenyl, biphenyl chloride, terphenyl, dibutyl phthalate, diethylene glycol phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, triphenylphosphoric acid, methylnaphthalene, benzophenone, chlorinated paraffin, polypropylene, polystyrene and various fluorohydrocarbons.

The antioxidants may include an antioxidant having a hindered phenol, hindered amine, thioether or phosphite partial structure. This is effective for improvement of potential stability and image quality in environmental variation. The antioxidants include an antioxidant having a hindered phenol, hindered amine, thioether or phosphite partial structure. This is effective for improvement of potential stability and image quality in environmental variation. For example, the hindered phenol antioxidants include SUMILIZER BHT-R, SUMILIZER MDP-S, SUMILIZER BBM-S, SUMILIZER WX-R, SUMILIZER NW, SUMILIZER BP-76, SUMILIZER BP-101, SUMILIZER GA-80, SUMILIZER GM and SUMILIZER GS (the above are manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), IRGANOX 1010, IRGANOX 1035, IRGANOX 1076, IRGANOX 1098, IRGANOX 1135, IRGANOX 1141, IRGANOX 1222, IRGANOX 1330, IRGANOX 1425WLj, IRGANOX 1520Lj, IRGANOX 245, IRGANOX 259, IRGANOX 3114, IRGANOX 3790, IRGANOX 5057 and IRGANOX 565 (the above are manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals), and ADECASTAB AO-20, ADECASTAB AO-30, ADECASTAB AO-40, ADECASTAB AO-50, ADECASTAB AO-60, ADECASTAB AO-70, ADECASTAB AO-80 and ADECASTAB AO-330i (the above are manufactured by Asahi Denka Co., Ltd.). The hindered amine antioxidants include SANOL LS2626, SANOL LS765, SANOL LS770, SANOL LS744, TINUVIN 144, TINUVIN 622LD, MARK LA57, MARK LA67, MARK LA62, MARK LA68, MARK LA63 and SUMILIZER TPS, and the phosphite antioxidants include MARK 2112, MARK PEP•8, MARK PEP•24G, MARK PEP•36, MARK 329K and MARK HP•10. Of these, the hindered phenol and hindered amine antioxidants are particularly preferred.

A siloxane-containing antioxidant may also incorporated into the silicon-containing layer of embodiments. In certain embodiments, the siloxane-containing antioxidant may be wholly or at least partially located in the siloxane region of the silicon-containing layer. The siloxane-containing antioxidants may include any siloxane-containing antioxidant having a hindered phenol, hindered amine, thioether or phosphite partial structure. Use of siloxane-containing antioxidants having a hindered phenol, hindered amine, thioether or phosphite partial structure, as described herein, has been found to drastically improve image deletion error even in long term cycling under conditions of high humidity and high temperature. Suitable siloxane-containing antioxidants that may be used in accordance with embodiments can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/998,585.

There is no particular limitation on the thickness of the silicon-containing layer, however, in embodiments, the silicon-containing layer may be in the range from about 2 to about 5 μm in thickness, preferably from about 2.7 to about 3.2 μm in thickness.

In embodiments of the invention, the photosensitive layer may comprise the silicon compound-containing layer as described above. In embodiments, the photosensitive has a peak area in the region of −40 to 0 ppm (S₁) and a peak area in the region of −100 to −50 ppm (S₂) in a ²⁹Si-NMR spectrum that satisfy the following equation (1): S₁/(S₁+S₂)≧0.5   (1) When S₁/(S₁+S₂) is less than 0.5, defects are liable to occur. In particular, there is a tendency to cause an indistinct image at high temperature and the pot life shortened. Thus, S₁/(S₁+S₂) may be about 0.6 or more, preferably about 0.7 or more.

The ²⁹Si-NMR spectrum of the photosensitive layer can be measured through the following procedure. First, the photosensitive layer is separated from the electrophotographic photoreceptor by use of a silicon-free adhesive tape, and a sample tube (7 mm in diameter) made of zirconia is filled with 150 mg of the resulting separated product. The sample tube is set on a ²⁹Si-NMR spectral measuring apparatus (for example, UNITY-300 manufactured by Varian, Inc.), and measurements are made under the following conditions:

Frequency: 59.59 MHz;

Delay time: 10.00 seconds;

Contact time: 2.5 milliseconds;

Measuring temperature: 25° C.;

Integrating number: 10,000 times; and

Revolution: 4,000±500 rpm.

The electrophotographic photoreceptor of embodiments may be either a function-separation-type photoreceptor, in which a layer containing a charge generation substance (charge generation layer) and a layer containing a charge transfer substance (charge transfer layer) are separately provided, or a monolayer-type photoreceptor, in which both the charge generation layer and the charge transfer layer are contained in the same layer, as long as the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the particular embodiment has the photosensitive layer provided with the above-mentioned silicon compound-containing layer. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the invention will be described in greater detail below, taking the function-separation-type photoreceptor as an example.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an embodiment of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the invention. The electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a function-separation-type photoreceptor in which a charge generation layer 13 and a charge transfer layer 14 are separately provided. That is, an underlayer 12, the charge generation layer 13, the charge transfer layer 14 and a protective layer 15 are laminated onto a conductive support 11 to form a photosensitive layer 16. The protective layer 15 contains a resin soluble in the liquid component contained in the coating solution used for formation of this layer and the silicon compound. Further, a peak area in the region of −40 to 0 ppm and a peak area in the region of −100 to −50 ppm in a 29Si-NMR spectrum of the photosensitive layer 16 satisfy equation (1).

The conductive support 11 may include, for example, a metal plate, a metal drum or a metal belt using a metal such as aluminum, copper, zinc, stainless steel, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, indium, gold or a platinum, or an alloy thereof; and paper or a plastic film or belt coated, deposited or laminated with a conductive polymer, a conductive compound such as indium oxide, a metal such as aluminum, palladium or gold, or an alloy thereof. Further, surface treatment (such as anodic oxidation coating, hot water oxidation, chemical treatment, or coloring) or diffused reflection treatment (such as graining) can also be applied to a surface of the support 11.

Binding resins used in the underlayer 12 of embodiments may include but are not limited to, one or more polyamide resins, vinyl chloride resins, vinyl acetate resins, phenol resins, polyurethane resins, melamine resins, benzoguanamine resins, a polyimide resins, polyethylene resins, polypropylene resins, polycarbonate resins, acrylic resins, methacrylic resins, vinylidene chloride resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol resins, a water-soluble polyester resins, nitrocelluloses, caseins, gelatins, polyglutamic acids, starches, starch acetates, amino starches, polyacrylic acids, polyacrylamides, zirconium chelate compounds, titanyl chelate compounds, titanyl alkoxide compounds, organic titanyl compounds, silane coupling agents and mixtures thereof. Further, fine particles of titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide, barium titanate, a silicone resin or the like may be added to the above-mentioned binding resin in embodiments.

As a coating method in forming the underlayer of embodiments, an ordinary method such as blade coating, Mayer bar coating, spray coating, dip coating, bead coating, air knife coating or curtain coating may be employed. The thickness of the underlayer may be from about 0.01 to about 40 μm.

Non-limiting examples of charge generation substances that may be contained in the charge generation layer 13 of embodiments include, but are not limited to, various organic pigments and organic dyes; such as azo pigments, quinoline pigments, perylene pigments, indigo pigments, thioindigo pigments, bisbenzimidazole pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, quinacridone pigments, quinoline pigments, lake pigments, azo lake pigments, anthraquinone pigments, oxazine pigments, dioxazine pigments, triphenylmethane pigments, azulenium dyes, squalium dyes, pyrylium dyes, triallylmethane dyes, xanthene dyes, thiazine dyes and cyanine dyes; and inorganic materials such as amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, tellurium, selenium-tellurium alloys, cadmium sulfide, antimony sulfide, zinc oxide and zinc sulfide. In embodiments, cyclocondensed aromatic pigments, perylene pigments and azo pigments may be used to impart sensitivity, electric stability and photochemical stability against irradiated light. These charge generation substances may be used either alone or as a combination of two or more.

In embodiments, the charge generation layer 13 may be formed by vacuum deposition of the charge generation substance or application of a coating solution in which the charge generation substance is dispersed in an organic solvent containing a binding resin. The binding resins used in the charge generation layer of embodiments include polyvinyl acetal resins such as polyvinyl butyral resins, polyvinyl formal resins or partially acetalized polyvinyl acetal resins in which butyral is partially modified with formal or acetoacetal, polyamide resins, polyester resins, modified ether type polyester resins, polycarbonate resins, acrylic resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, polyvinylidene chlorides, polystyrene resins, polyvinyl acetate resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, silicone resins, phenol resins, phenoxy resins, melamine resins, benzoguanamine resins, urea resins, polyurethane resins, poly-N-vinylcarbazole resins, polyvinylanthracene resins, polyvinylpyrene resins and mixtures thereof. In embodiments in which one or more of polyvinyl acetal resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, phenoxy resins or modified ether type polyester resins are used, the dispersibility of the charge generation substance may be improved to cause no occurrence of coagulation of the charge generation substance, and a coating solution that is stable for a long period of time may be obtained. The use of such a coating solution in embodiments makes it possible to form a uniform coating easily and surely. As a result, the electric characteristics may be improved, and image defects may be prevented. Further, the compounding ratio of the charge generation substance to the binding resin may be, in embodiments, within the range of from about 5:1 to about 1:2 by volume ratio.

Further, the solvents used in preparing the coating solution in embodiments may include organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, benzyl alcohol, methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, chlorobenzene, methyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, methylene chloride, chloroform and mixtures thereof.

Methods for applying the coating solution in embodiments include the coating methods described above with reference to the underlayer. The thickness of the charge generation layer 13 thus formed may be from about 0.01 to about 5 μm, preferably from about 0.1 to about 2 μm. When the thickness of the charge generation layer 13 is less than 0.01 μm, it becomes difficult to uniformly form the charge generation layer. On the other hand, when the thickness exceeds 5 μm, the electrophotographic characteristics tend to significantly deteriorate.

Further, a stabilizer such as an antioxidant or an inactivating agent can also be added to the charge generation layer 13 in embodiments. Non-limiting examples of antioxidants that may be used include but are not limited to antioxidants such as phenolic, sulfur, phosphorus and amine compounds. Inactivating agents that may be used in embodiments may include bis(dithiobenzyl)nickel and nickel di-n-butylthiocarbamate.

In embodiments, the charge transfer layer 14 can be formed by applying a coating solution containing the charge transfer substance and a binding resin, and further fine particles, an additive, etc., as described above.

Low molecular weight charge transfer substances that may be used in embodiments may include, for example, pyrene, carbazole, hydrazone, oxazole, oxadiazole, pyrazoline, arylamine, arylmethane, benzidine, thiazole, stilbene and butadiene compounds. In embodiments, high molecular weight charge transfer substances may be used and include, for example, poly-N-vinylcarbazoles, poly-N-vinylcarbazole halides, polyvinyl pyrenes, polyvinylanthracenes, polyvinylacridines, pyrene-formaldehyde resins, ethylcarbazole-formaldehyde resins, triphenylmethane polymers and polysilanes. Triphenylamine compounds, triphenylmethane compounds and benzidine compounds may be used in embodiments to promote mobility, stability and transparency to light. Further, silicon compound represented by general formula (3) can also be used as charge transfer substances in particular embodiments.

As binding resins in embodiments, high molecular weight polymers that can form an electrical insulating film may be used. For example, when polyvinyl acetal resins, polyamide resins, cellulose resins, phenol resins, etc., which are soluble in alcoholic solvents, are used, binding resins used together with these resins include polycarbonates, polyesters, methacrylic resins, acrylic resins, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinylidene chlorides, polystyrenes, polyvinyl acetates, styrene-butadiene copolymers, vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride copolymers, silicone resins, silicone-alkyd resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, styrene-alkyd resins, poly-N-vinylcarbazoles, polyvinyl butyrals, polyvinyl formals, polysulfones, casein, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohols, phenol resins, polyamides, carboxymethyl celluloses, vinylidene chloride-based polymer latexes and polyurethanes. Of the above-mentioned high molecular weight polymers, polycarbonates, polyesters, methacrylic resins and acrylic resins have excellent compatibility with the charge transfer substance, solubility and strength.

The charge transfer layer 14 of embodiments may further contain an additive such as a plasticizer, a surface modifier, an antioxidant or an agent for preventing deterioration by light.

The thickness of the charge transfer layer 14 may be, in embodiments, from about 5 to about 50 μm, preferably from about 10 to about 40 μm. When the thickness of the charge transfer layer is less than 5 μm, charging becomes difficult. However, thicknesses exceeding 50 μm result significant deterioration of the electrophotographic characteristics.

Protective layer 15 may contain, in embodiments, resins soluble in liquid components in coating solution used for formation of protective layers and silicon compounds as described above. Protective layer 15 may further contain a lubricant or fine particles of a silicone oil or a fluorine material, which can also improve lubricity and strength. Non-limiting examples of the lubricants include the above-mentioned fluorine-based silane coupling agents. Fine particles to be dispersed in the protective layer 15 of embodiments may include fine particles comprising resins obtained by copolymerizing fluororesins with hydroxyl group-containing monomers, as described in Proceedings of Lectures in the Eighth Polymer Material Forum, page 89, and semiconductive metal oxides, as well as the above-mentioned fine silicone particles and fine fluorine-based particles. The thickness of the protective layer may be, in embodiments, from about 0.1 to about 10 μm, preferably from about 0.5 to about 7 μm.

The electrophotographic photoreceptor of embodiments should not be construed as being limited to the abovementioned constitution. For example, the electrophotographic photoreceptor shown in FIG. 1 is provided with the protective layer 15. However, when the charge transfer layer 14 contains the resin soluble in the liquid component in the coating solution used for formation of this layer and the silicon compound, the charge transfer layer 14 may be used as a top surface layer (a layer on the side farthest apart from the support 11) without using the protective layer 15. In this case, the charge transfer substance contained in the charge transfer layer 14 is preferably soluble in the liquid component in the coating solution used for formation of the charge transfer layer 14. For example, when the coating solution used for formation of the charge transfer layer 14 contains the alcoholic solvent, the silicon compounds represented by the above-mentioned general formula (3) and compounds represented by the following formulas (VI-1) to (VI-16) are preferably used as the charge transfer substances.

Other exemplary charge transport molecules include, but are not limited to, the various compounds identified above as the organic group W², which have hole transport capability. In embodiments, a particularly preferred charge transport molecule is the arylamine of formula (33):

Production of such arylamine charge transport compounds, however, is generally a costly, time-consuming, multi-step process.

The conventional process for producing an exemplary arylamine charge transport compound, such as the compound of formula (33), is a complex eleven step synthesis, the pertinent portions of which are depicted in FIG. 5. The synthesis is made difficult by the fact that the arylamine charge transport compounds are generally hydrolytically sensitive. Further difficulties arise because these compounds are highly viscous syrups which must be purified by column chromatography.

In particular, difficulties arise in the condensation of dicarboxylic acids with silicon-containing compounds to generate the final arylamine charge transport compounds. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary reaction under this procedure.

In the procedure shown in FIG. 6, a dibasic hole-transporting acid, Compound D, is suspended in a toluene-DMF reaction solvent and heated with an excess of potassium carbonate to generate the potassium salt, Compound E. After several hours, the reaction temperature is slowly raised to 150° C. to azeotropically remove water generated during the reaction and to distill off toluene. The mixture is then cooled.

A silicon-containing compound, such as 3-halopropylsilane esters, for example 3-iodopropyldiisopropoxymethylsilane, is added in excess, along with a small amount of isopropanol. The condensation reaction is allowed to proceed at 90° for 5 hours. A crude product, Compound C, is obtained by toluene extraction and brine washing. Compound C has an high performance liquid chromatography purity of approximately 95% and, an oligomer content of from 5-10%, as determined by gas phase chromatography analysis. The oligomer content is attributable to hydrolysis and polymerization due to residual traces of water in the condensation reaction mixture.

Because this material is not sufficiently pure to use directly, it must be purified by column chromatography. In the best case, a 70% yield of final product is recovered.

There are deficiencies related to this reaction scheme. For example, a relatively high oligomer content is observed, even when attempts are made to make the condensation reaction components anhydrous.

In addition, the use of isopropanol results in a number of impurities, such as those shown in FIG. 7. Impurities (1) and (2) arise from base-catalyzed transesterification reactions by isopropanol on the final product and have been identified in mass spectroscopy/liquid chromatography spectra of crude reaction mixtures. Impurity (3) is formed by a base catalyzed SN₂ reaction by isopropanol on the silicon-containing compound and can be isolated by high vacuum distillation of the crude reaction mixture.

A process for producing arylamine charge transport compound is to react dicarboxylic acids with isolated anhydrous alkali metal salts to form anhydrous alkali metal salts of the dicarboxylic acids. These anhydrous alkali metal salts of dicarboxylic acids are then reacted with silicon-containing compounds to generate the final arylamine charge transport compounds. This process has numerous advantages over the conventional process set forth above: (1) it eliminates added base, (2) it eliminates added isopropanol, (3) it eliminates the need to azeotropically remove water produced during salt formation and the extensive heating necessary to azeotropically remove water and (4) yields and quality are not compromised.

An alkali metal salt of a dicarboxylic acid derivative of an arylamine can be conveniently prepared in the following manner and as shown in FIG. 8.

The dicarboxylic acid derivative of an arylamine, Compound D, is suspended in a solvent and slowly added two equivalents of an alkali metal alkyl oxide, such as potassium isopropoxide. Suitable solvents include DMF, methanol, ethanol, propanols, butanols, pentanols, hexanols and mixtures thereof, with DMF and isopropanol being preferred. Suitable alkali metals include, for example, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium, with potassium being preferred. A white solid is precipitated from this mixture. The mixture is heated at a temperature just below reflux while stirring is maintained. The reaction can be conducted over a period of time ranging from about 15 minutes to about 5 hours, such as about 30 minutes to about 2 hours or about 1 hour. The mixture is then cooled, filtered and dried in vacuo. The yield of dicarboxylate salt is quantitative, with the only losses being mechanical in nature. The isolated product is stable, non-hygroscopic, has an HPLC purity of 99+%, and can easily be handled and stored in air or under dry nitrogen.

The result of this process is the formation of a desired anhydrous arylamine compound, which can broadly be characterized as a derivative of 4-aminobiphenyl. Thus, for example, the arylamine compounds provided by the present invention can be represented by the following general formula (36): 4-aminobiphenyl-(R¹—CH₂—CH₂—COO⁻X₁ ⁺)(R²—CH₂—CH₂—COO⁻X₂ ⁺)  (36) where R¹ and R², which can be the same or different, are as described above, and X₁ and X₂, which can be the same or different, are cationic groups, such as hydrogen ions (H⁺), potassium ions (K⁺), or the like.

In order to obtain an exemplary arylamine charge transport compound from the alkali metal dicarboxylic acid salt, stoichiometric amounts of a silicon-containing compound and Compound E are dissolved in DMF and allowed to react for approximately 30 minutes at 85° C. Suitable silicon-containing compounds include siloxane-containing compounds, such as 3-halopropylsilane esters, for example 3-iodopropyldiisopropoxymethylsilane. These reactions are homogeneous and do not contain any added potassium carbonate. The product salt, potassium iodide, has a very high solubility in DMF. Thus, a crude product, Compound C is obtained by toluene extraction and brine washing. Compound C has an high performance liquid chromatography purity of approximately 95% and, an oligomer content of from about 1 to about 10%, but is typically about 4%, as determined by gel permeation chromatography analysis.

After each step in the overall process, suitable separation, filtration, and purification processes can be conducted, as desired. For example, after the second step, the final product can be isolated, for example, by a suitable recrystallization procedure. All of these procedures are conventional and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. However, a benefit of the process, as described above, is that the reaction product mixture from the first step can be directly used in the second step without isolation or purification.

Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 constituted as shown in FIG. 1 is supported by a support 9, and rotatable at a specified rotational speed in the direction indicated by the arrow, centered on the support 9. A contact charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer device 5 and a cleaning unit 7 are arranged in this order along the rotational direction of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1. Further, this exemplary apparatus is equipped with an image fixing device 6, and a medium P to which a toner image is to be transferred is conveyed to the image fixing device 6 through the transfer device 5.

The contact charging device 2 has a roller-shaped contact charging member. The contact charging member is arranged so that it comes into contact with a surface of the photoreceptor 1, and a voltage is applied, thereby being able to give a specified potential to the surface of the photoreceptor 1. In embodiments, a contact charging member may be formed from a metal such as aluminum, iron or copper, a conductive polymer material such as a polyacetylene, a polypyrrole or a polythiophene, or a dispersion of fine particles of carbon black, copper iodide, silver iodide, zinc sulfide, silicon carbide, a metal oxide or the like in an elastomer material such as polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, acrylic rubber, fluororubber, styrene-butadiene rubber or butadiene rubber. Non-limiting examples of metal oxides that may be used in embodiments include ZnO, SnO₂, TiO₂, In₂O₃, MoO₃ and complex oxides thereof. Further, a perchlorate may be added to the elastomer material to impart conductivity.

Further, a covering layer can also be provided on a surface of the contact charging member of embodiments. Non-limiting examples of materials that may be used in embodiments for forming a covering layer include N-alkoxy-methylated nylon, cellulose resins, vinylpyridine resins, phenol resins, polyurethanes, polyvinyl butyrals, melamines and mixtures thereof. Furthermore, emulsion resin materials such as acrylic resin emulsions, polyester resin emulsions or polyurethanes, may be used. In order to further adjust resistivity, conductive agent particles may be dispersed in these resins, and in order to prevent deterioration, an antioxidant can also be added thereto. Further, in order to improve film forming properties in forming the covering layer, a leveling agent or a surfactant may be added to the emulsion resin in embodiments.

The resistance of the contact charging member of embodiments may be from 10⁰ to 10¹⁴ Ωcm, and from 10² to 10¹² Ωcm. When a voltage is applied to this contact charging member, either a DC voltage or an AC voltage can be used as the applied voltage. Further, a superimposed voltage of a DC voltage and an AC voltage can also be used.

In the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the contact charging member of the contact charging device 2 is in the shape of a roller. However, such a contact charging member may be in the shape of a blade, a belt, a brush or the like.

Further, in embodiments an optical device that can perform desired image wise exposure to a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 with a light source such as a semiconductor laser, an LED (light emitting diode) or a liquid crystal shutter, may be used as the exposure device 3.

Furthermore, a known developing device using a normal or reversal developing agent of a one-component system, a two-component system or the like may be used in embodiments as the developing device 4. There is no particular limitation on toners that may be used in embodiments.

Contact type transfer charging devices using a belt, a roller, a film, a rubber blade or the like, or a scorotron transfer charger or a corotron transfer charger utilizing corona discharge may be employed as the transfer device 5, in various embodiments.

Further, in embodiments, the cleaning device 7 may be a device for removing a remaining toner adhered to the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 after a transfer step, and the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 repeatedly subjected to the above-mentioned image formation process may be cleaned thereby. In embodiments, the cleaning device 7 may be a cleaning blade, a cleaning brush, a cleaning roll or the like. Materials for the cleaning blade include urethane rubber, neoprene rubber and silicone rubber.

In the exemplary image forming device shown in FIG. 2, the respective steps of charging, exposure, development, transfer and cleaning are conducted in turn in the rotation step of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1, thereby repeatedly performing image formation. The electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 may be provided with specified silicon-containing layers and photosensitive layers that satisfy equation (1), as described above, and thus photoreceptors having excellent discharge gas resistance, mechanical strength, scratch resistance, particle dispersibility, etc., may be provided. Accordingly, even in embodiments in which the photoreceptor is used together with the contact charging device or the cleaning blade, or further with spherical toner obtained by chemical polymerization, good image quality can be obtained without the occurrence of image defects such as fogging. That is, embodiments provide image forming apparatuses that can stably provide good image quality for a long period of time is realized.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing another exemplary embodiment of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 220 shown in FIG. 3 is an image forming apparatus of an intermediate transfer system, and four electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d are arranged in parallel with each other along an intermediate transfer belt 409 in a housing 400.

Here, the electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d carried by the image forming apparatus 220 are each the electrophotographic photoreceptors of embodiments. Each of the electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d may rotate in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise on the sheet of FIG. 3), and charging rolls 402 a to 402 d, developing device 404 a to 404 d, primary transfer rolls 410 a to 410 d and cleaning blades 415 a to 415 d are each arranged along the rotational direction thereof. In each of the developing device 404 a to 404 d, four-color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B) contained in toner cartridges 405 a to 405 d can be supplied, and the primary transfer rolls 410 a to 410 d are each brought into abutting contact with the electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d through an intermediate transfer belt 409.

Further, a laser light source (exposure unit) 403 is arranged at a specified position in the housing 400, and it is possible to irradiate surfaces of the electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d after charging with laser light emitted from the laser light source 403. This performs the respective steps of charging, exposure, development, primary transfer and cleaning in turn in the rotation step of the electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d, and toner images of the respective colors are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 409, one over the other.

The intermediate transfer belt 409 is supported with a driving roll 406, a backup roll 408 and a tension roll 407 at a specified tension, and rotatable by the rotation of these rolls without the occurrence of deflection. Further, a secondary transfer roll 413 is arranged so that it is brought into abutting contact with the backup roll 408 through the intermediate transfer belt 409. The intermediate transfer belt 409 which has passed between the backup roll 408 and the secondary transfer roll 413 is cleaned up by a cleaning blade 416, and then repeatedly subjected to the subsequent image formation process.

Further, a tray 411, for providing a medium such as paper to which a toner image is to be transferred, is provided at a specified position in the housing 400. The medium to which the toner image is to be transferred in the tray 411 is conveyed in turn between the intermediate transfer belt 409 and the secondary transfer roll 413, and further between two fixing rolls 414 brought into abutting contact with each other, with a conveying roll 412, and then delivered out of the housing 400.

According to the exemplary image forming apparatus 220 shown in FIG. 3, the use of electrophotographic photoreceptors of embodiments as electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d may achieve discharge gas resistance, mechanical strength, scratch resistance, etc. on a sufficiently high level in the image formation process of each of the electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d. Accordingly, even when the photoreceptors are used together with the contact charging devices or the cleaning blades, or further with the spherical toner obtained by chemical polymerization, good image quality can be obtained without the occurrence of image defects such as fogging. Therefore, also according to the image forming apparatus for color image formation using the intermediate transfer body, such as this embodiment, the image forming apparatus which can stably provide good image quality for a long period of time is realized.

The above-mentioned embodiments should not be construed as limiting. For example, each apparatus shown in FIG. 2 or 3 may be equipped with a process cartridge comprising the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 (or the electrophotographic photoreceptors 401 a to 401 d) and charging device 2 (or the charging devices 402 a to 402 d). The use of such a process cartridge allows maintenance to be performed more simply and easily.

Further, in embodiments, when a charging device of the non-contact charging system such as a corotron charger is used in place of the contact charging device 2 (or the contact charging devices 402 a to 402 d), sufficiently good image quality can be obtained.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of an apparatus that is shown in FIG. 2, a toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 is directly transferred to the medium P to which the toner image is to be transferred. However, the image forming apparatus of embodiments may be further provided with an intermediate transfer body. This makes it possible to transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer body to the medium P to which the toner image is to be transferred, after the toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 has been transferred to the intermediate transfer body. As such an intermediate transfer body, there can be used one having a structure in which an elastic layer containing a rubber, an elastomer, a resin or the like and at least one covering layer are laminated on a conductive support.

In addition, the image forming apparatus of embodiments may be further equipped with a static eliminator such as an erase light irradiation device. This may prevent incorporation of residual potential into subsequent cycles when the electrophotographic photoreceptor is used repeatedly. Accordingly, image quality can be more improved.

EXAMPLES

The embodiments as discussed above are illustrated in greater detail with reference to the following Examples and Comparative Examples, but the invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. In the following examples and comparative examples, all the “parts” are given by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1 Preparation of Arylamine Intermediate

To a 1 L flask fitted with mechanical stirrer, argon inlet and reflux condenser is charged 77.91 g (0.167 mole) Compound D (FIG. 6) in 400 mL isopropanol is slowly added two equivalents of potassium isopropoxide 109.6 mL of a 19 wt. % IPA solution (0.335 mole)(commercially available from Callery Chemical, Pittsburgh, Pa.). This addition provokes the instantaneous precipitation of a white solid. The mixture is heated with stirring at just below reflux 75° for one hour. The mixture is then cooled, filtered and dried in vacuo. The yield of 90.35 g is quantitative, with the only losses being mechanical in nature. The isolated is stable, non-hygroscopic and can easily be handled in air.

Example 2 Preparation of Arylamine Intermediate

To a 500 mLL flask fitted with mechanical stirrer, argon inlet and reflux condenser is charged 77.91 g (0.167 mole) Compound D (FIG. 6) in 400 mL DMF is slowly added two equivalents of potassium isopropoxide (commercially available from Callery Chemical, Pittsburgh, Pa.). This addition provokes the instantaneous precipitation of a white solid. The mixture is heated with stirring 70° for thirty minutes. The mixture is then cooled, filtered and dried in vacuo. The yield of 90.35 g of Compound E is quantitative, with the only losses being mechanical in nature. The isolated is stable, non-hygroscopic and can easily be handled in air.

Example 3 Preparation of Arylamine Charge Transport Molecule

To a 500 mL L flask fitted with mechanical stirrer, argon inlet and reflux condenser is charged 8 g (14.76 mmol) Compound E (FIG. 6), produced in Example 1, in 140 mL DMF and 9.75 g (29.54 mmol)of 3-iodopropyldiisopropoxymethylsilane (1 stoichiometric equivalent). The mixture is heated to approximately 85° C. and allowed to react with stirring for thirty minutes. The mixture is then cooled, and the crude product, Compound C is obtained by toluene extraction and brine washing. Compound C has an high performance liquid chromatography purity of approximately 95% and, an oligomer content of from 4%, as determined by gel permeation chromatography analysis.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 

1. A process for forming a siloxane-containing hole transport molecule, comprising: reacting a dicarboxylic acid of an arylamine compound with an anhydrous alkali metal salt to form an anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound; filtering the anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound to form an isolated anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound; and reacting the isolated anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound with a siloxane-containing compound, wherein no water is used to form the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule, and wherein the anhydrous alkali metal salt is potassium isopropoxide.
 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dicarboxylic acid of an arylamine compound is a dicarboxylic acid of a tertiary arylamine.
 3. The process according to claim 1, wherein said reacting a dicarboxylic acid of an arylamine compound with an anhydrous alkali metal salt is conducted in a solvent.
 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the solvent is chosen from the group consisting of DMF, methanol, ethanol, propanols, butanols, pentanols, hexanols and mixtures thereof.
 5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the siloxane-containing compound is 3-iodopropyldiisopropoxymethylsilane.
 6. The process according to claim 1, wherein said reacting said anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound with a siloxane-containing compound is conducted in a solvent.
 7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the solvent is isopropanol.
 8. A process for forming a siloxane-containing hole transport molecule, comprising: reacting a dicarboxylic acid of an arylamine compound with an anhydrous alkali metal salt to form an anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound; filtering the anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound to form an isolated anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound; and reacting the isolated anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound with a siloxane-containing compound, wherein no water is used to form the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule, wherein the anhydrous alkali metal salt is potassium isopropoxide. and wherein a high performance liquid chromatography purity of the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule is at least about 95%.
 9. A process for forming a siloxane-containing hole transport molecule, comprising: reacting a dicarboxylic acid of an arylamine compound with an anhydrous alkali metal salt to form an anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound; and filtering the anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound to form an isolated anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound; and reacting the isolated anhydrous dicarboxylic acid salt of the arylamine compound with a siloxane-containing compound, wherein no water is used to form the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule, wherein the anhydrous alkali metal salt is potassium isopropoxide, and wherein an oligomer content of the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule is from about 1 to about 10% by weight of the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule.
 10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the oligomer content of the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule is from about 1 to about 4% by weight of the siloxane-containing hole transport molecule. 